THIS BAT WAS USED by the original "Hammerin' Hank," Hank Sauer, in a May 1954 Cubs series with the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. In a powerful line-up that included rookie Ernie Banks and veteran Ralph Kiner, Sauer hit clean-up and lead the Bruins in homers with 41 and RBIs with 103 in 1954. Chicago took 3 out of 4 from the Redbirds in this series with Hank hitting his 13th circuit-blast and knocking in 4 runs in a 15-5 shellacking of the Cardinals in the third game, and poling his 14th homer of the season in a 7-3 win in the last game of the series.

HANK SAUER

ALL-STAR: 1950, 1952

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: 1952

Sauer led National League in '52 with 121 RBI and 37 HRs

Hank had a .266 lifetime average with 1,278 hits, 288 HRs and 876 RBIs

MAJOR LEAGUE ALL-STAR

HANK SAUER had a .266 lifetime average with 1,278 hits, 288 HRs, 876 RBIs, and was a two-time National League all-star.

HANK SAUER WEB LINKS

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Hank Sauer began his Major League career on September 9, 1941 with the Cincinnati Reds. The original "Hammerin’ Hank" played 15 seasons, 1941-59 with the Reds, Cubs, Cards and Giants.

Sauer didn't make it to the Major Leagues on a regular basis until he was 31 years old, but once he made it, he put together several successful years. His first appearance in the majors came in 1941 with the Reds when he appeared in nine games. In 1942, he reappeared to play only seven games for Cincinnati.

In 1944-45, Sauer served in the military and returned at the end of 1945 to play in 31 games, hitting five home runs and driving in 20 runs. He went back down to the minors until 1948 when he reapeared on the Major League scene in a big way, belting 35 homers and driving in 97 runs to pace the 7th place Reds in both categories.

After an early season slump and hitting only .237 in 42 games, Sauer was traded by the Reds to the Cubs. Hank found a happy home in Wrigley Field. In his first month in Chicago, Sauer hit 11 home runs and, over the rest of the season, he hit .291 for the Cubs.

THE ORIGINAL "Hammerin’ Hank" played 15 seasons, 1941-59 with the Reds, Cubs, Cards and Giants.

Between the Reds and the Cubs, he hit 31 home runs and drove in 99 runs during the 1949 season. He continued his success in 1950 and 1951 with 32 and 30 home runs respectively. He drove in 103 runs in 1950 and 89 in 1951.

In 1952 Sauer led the National League with 121 RBI, tied Pittsburgh's Ralph Kiner with 37 home runs, and earned the National League MVP award. His follow-up season was cut short by a broken finger. In 108 games, Hank hit 19 home runs and drove in 60 runs while batting .263. He returned to form in 1953 and hit .288 with 41 home runs and 108 RBIs.

Hank had a .266 lifetime average with 1,278 hits, 288 HRs, 876 RBIs, and was a two-time National League all-star.

HANK SAUER: Did you know...

...Sauer was traded by the Cincinnati Reds in June 1949 with Frank Baumholtz to the Chicago Cubs for Harry Walker and Peanuts Lowrey.

...Sauer was traded by the Chicago Cubs in March 1956 to the St. Louis Cardinals for Pete Whisenant.

...Sauer was signed as a Free Agent in Oct. 1956 with the New York Giants.

...Sauer was released by the San Francisco Giants in August 1959.

...Sauer was born March 17, 1917 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He died August 24, 2001 in Burlingame, California at age 84.

SAUER WAS TRADED by the Reds in 1949 to the Cubs. Then, when Chicago picked up Ralph Kiner in a block-buster deal with the Pirates in 1953, Chicago had one of the most powerful duos in baseball. They combined for 63 homers and 176 RBIs in 1954. The right-handed sluggers, Hank, left, and Ralph sport their lumber for the fans in this 1953 photo.